The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition by Emmanuel Chambers, a law firm associated with Chief Afe Babalola, seeking the revocation of lawyer and author Dele Farotimi’s law practice license.
The petition accused Farotimi of criminal defamation and professional misconduct based on claims in his book, Nigeria and the Criminal Justice System.
The petition, submitted by Emmanuel Chambers lawyer Mr. Ola Faro, alleged that Farotimi’s book contained defamatory statements against the Supreme Court and the legal profession.
Specific references were made to suit SC/146/2006, involving Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye, where Farotimi reportedly accused judicial officers and the legal community of corruption, bribery, and unethical practices.
The Chambers also argued that Farotimi’s publication distorted case facts, disrespected colleagues, and undermined the justice system.
The firm claimed the book breached sections of the 2023 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, warranting his disbarment.
LPDC Chairman, Justice Isaq Usman Bello, ruled on Tuesday in Abuja that the petition fell outside the committee’s jurisdiction.
The LPDC clarified that its mandate does not cover complaints about intellectual property, such as publications, but rather conduct or actions directly related to legal practice.
The LPDC stated, “The publication is an intellectual property and not a conduct or action committed while practicing as a Legal Practitioner. All aggrieved parties who find the publication ‘defamatory’ should ventilate their grievances through the regular courts.”
Farotimi’s book has sparked debate in legal and public circles, with some defending its critique of Nigeria’s judicial system as intellectual expression and others, like Emmanuel Chambers, viewing it as an affront to the legal profession.
Meanwhile, Dele Farotimi has been released from the correctional center in Ekiti State after meeting bail conditions set by a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti.
Speaking to supporters after his release, Farotimi maintained his innocence, emphasising his commitment to truth in his advocacy work.
“In my public advocacy, I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know, I will say I don’t know,” he said, adding that truth remains the most powerful tool for driving change in Nigeria.
Farotimi’s trials continue to garner attention, highlighting the broader challenges faced by human rights advocates in Nigeria.
